NCLEX RN Exam! HELP! (May 2017)

I'm testing NCLEX RN Exam at the end of May. I'm focusing on UWORLD as the rationales are really on point! I also have Saunders, LaCharity and other resources but I prefer Uworld and I use it most times. My problem is, I'm only scoring about 51.2% in the Uworld Qbank (did not answer yet the incorrect ones) with 1,300 more questions left. I have 26 days to go to finish the entire Qbank. I'm also working at the same time as a CNA and reduced my hours to part-time now. Did any of you pass with an average or below average score in Uworld? How was it?

I'm just so nervous with my scores. I feel like I still have a lot to learn. I would really appreciate your comments esp those who took the exam already and only used Uworld as their resources.

I'm taking my NCLEX in the beginning of May. I have only been using Uworld per classmates advice and reading forums about how successful Uworld has been for people passing the NCLEX with 75 questions. From what other people have said, percentages are not something to get hung up about. The most important thing is reading the rationales and understanding why you got questions wrong.
I am also worried though; My Uworld average is 58% being in the 75th percentile (I was scoring in the 40% range my first two tests, but am now consistently in the 60% range). I took the first Uworld assessment and got 65% placing me in the 78th percentile and a "Very High" chance of passing.

I'm taking my NCLEX in the beginning of May. I have only been using Uworld per classmates advice and reading forums about how successful Uworld has been for people passing the NCLEX with 75 questions. From what other people have said, percentages are not something to get hung up about. The most important thing is reading the rationales and understanding why you got questions wrong.
I am also worried though; My Uworld average is 58% being in the 75th percentile (I was scoring in the 40% range my first two tests, but am now consistently in the 60% range). I took the first Uworld assessment and got 65% placing me in the 78th percentile and a "Very High" chance of passing.

That's what my friend said too. He got 50%+ average and he only used Uworld and pass the test. However, he made notes of all the rationales. Did you finish the 1,900+ questions? I bet you'll make it with that percentage! Did you also write down the rationales and redo the incorrect ones? Sorry have lots of questions. Hope i'll make it too. When in May are you taking the test? That's next week already. Good luck to you!

Apr 28

I'm taking it pretty much next week!! I am not telling anyone my exact test date; I have some anxiety surrounding this test and have heard of people using this method to relieve testing anxiety. I literally just finished all of the 1900+ questions; reviewing my last test rationales now (Got 60% with the avg. being 49%; I'm not sure if scoring above the average is really a good indicator). I am planning on doing the second assessment sometime today; I'm just worried because I test so soon and don't want to score poorly and make myself worry since I am testing next week.
Don't worry about all the questions!!! I'm sure everyone who has not taken their NCLEX yet is in the same boat. I did not take notes on the rationales (I did in the beginning and it ate too much time); my classmates have told me it is a waste of time to try and remember EVERYTHING. The stress is on understanding.

I'm taking it pretty much next week!! I am not telling anyone my exact test date; I have some anxiety surrounding this test and have heard of people using this method to relieve testing anxiety. I literally just finished all of the 1900+ questions; reviewing my last test rationales now (Got 60% with the avg. being 49%; I'm not sure if scoring above the average is really a good indicator). I am planning on doing the second assessment sometime today; I'm just worried because I test so soon and don't want to score poorly and make myself worry since I am testing next week.
Don't worry about all the questions!!! I'm sure everyone who has not taken their NCLEX yet is in the same boat. I did not take notes on the rationales (I did in the beginning and it ate too much time); my classmates have told me it is a waste of time to try and remember EVERYTHING. The stress is on understanding.

I didn't take notes too. Seems a lot . But thanks, it's a relief! I feel like I might be doing it wrong sometimes. lol Good for you, you finish the 1900+ questions already. I think you'll really make it!!!! I'll take mine on my scheduled date too whatever happens. Even if I don't finish the Qbank.

Sending prayers for you. Good luck to both of us! Let me know how it went.

Apr 28

Much appreciated!!! I need all the help I can get.
Good Luck!! Sending Positive Vibes

Apr 28

You're lucky im 20 days away and its like i havent absorb everything yet and WE BOTH ARE ON THE SAME BOAT!! SAME SOURCES, SAME QUESTIONS LEFT!! hahahahha Im also working but im taking off 2 weeks before exam.

how long have you been studying?

Apr 28

I'm confused as to how Uworld's self assessments work. I just took the second assessment and got 59% correct placing me in the 60th percentile and it gave me a very high chance of passing. I feel 59% is horrible. (probably should not have taken the second assessment after spending the whole day doing questions, but no excuses).
I also have a bad habit of changing my right answers to the wrong ones; still working on not doing that.

Apr 29

Do not fret! I only used Uworld study and passed. My scores were typically between 55-65%, although I had scores between 50-55% at times. You should be able to see the average score of other students after answering the same questions, no matter how many. If you are scoring at or above that percentage, then you are doing okay. I did roughly 900-1000 questions in a two week period and paid very close attention to the rationales.

What I noticed with Uworld is that all questions are different - most are not similar. I wouldn't worry if you are studying, studying, studying the rationales and then find it isn't necessarily helping you on other questions, because new information is showing with each question. If the topic IS similar, then think back to the rationales you studied.

The goal is to assume those questions are in the NCLEX. The similarity between NCLEX and UWorld still amazes me as I look back on the test. I wouldn't worry too much. Study the rationales, but know you're not going to see "drastic" improvement in your scores, rather they should go up by 5%, 10% at best. 55-65% is good, so aim there!

Also, I was scoring 55-60% on the practice exams and it said I was likely to pass.

Apr 29

I was using LaCharity and got up to chapter 19, but I knew I needed to be challenged more, so I took everyone's advice on here and purchased UWorld. I started my UWorld subscription on March 15th and tested for NCLEX-RN on April 25th; I used UWorld exclusively from the time I subscribed up until my exam. I found out on April 28th that I passed after 190 questions!

I had about 533 questions left in my QBANK prior to taking my exam; my overall score (not including the tests that I created using incorrect questions) was 53%. My scores on exams ranged between high 40's to high 60's (mainly scoring in the mid-50's). I also had one outlier where I scored 34%; that's what I get for trying to study at 3am in bed dozing off every other question (don't do that. haha.) I took only 1 of the RN Self-Assessments and scored 64%, placed in the 74th percentile, with a very high chance of passing.

If it helps you any, here was how I studied:
Mon-Fri
-Work: 8:30am-5pm
-Straight to Starbucks and studied from 5:30-10/11pm (still had to commute 45 min home)
-Took test of 75 questions *(how I remediated down below)

Week of April 10-14th (work gave me 1 week off)
-I started my day at 9am with breakfast and watching some Netflix (it was such a luxury not having to wake up at 6am to get ready for and commute to work). I started my studying at 10am, with the same schedule as Sat-Sun with breaks every 2 hours for 15-30 min.

*I would read through ALL rationales; I went over incorrect rationales first and then the correct ones.
-Incorrect questions: I divided a notebook into systems (cardiac, peds, renal, maternity, etc.) where I would write rationales and/or draw diagrams/pictures/charts. If I wrote something similar down in the same section, it was an indicator that I needed to study that concept a little further.
-Correct questions: If it was questions I already felt comfortable with (ie, delegating tasks to UAP/LVN/new grad, which pt to give a nurse that floated to another unit, placing skills in order, etc.), I would type notes, using the notes section in UWorld to solidify my knowledge regarding the question. If my reasoning for getting the question right differed from UWorld's explanation, I would write it in my notebook.

Key things to note:
-When you take your NCLEX, you'll feel like you're taking a UWorld test.
-Questions on NCLEX are actually a bit easier to rationalize through than UWorld (you may even see some questions that are SIMILAR to questions you had on UWorld or you'll automatically know the answer to bc of UWorld's rationales.)
-Don't panic if you go beyond 75 questions; you're in it to win it so answer each question like they're #75. (I took a little breather when the break pop-ups came. I didn't leave the room; I sat at the computer, closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and said 'you got this' and kept going.)

Like many people say, don't get hung up on your scores. What matters is your understanding of why you got questions right and wrong, and your ability to rationalize questions while thinking critically. From now until the end of May (with already having started studying), that is plenty time to study and be ready for your boards as long as you stick to a dedicated study schedule.

Claim your victory and don't doubt your ability to pass this exam. I have a feeling you're gonna do great. Best of luck to you!

Last edit by 0oliejay on Apr 29
: Reason: OP reduced work hours, but did not state was given 2 weeks off from work.